MLB Network listed 4000 career hit leaders counting minor league action. I think there were a grand total of 5. Would you contend that our minor league pitchers are better than Japanese League pitchers?

Posted by MikeT23 on 8/22/2013 8:04:00 AM (view original):MLB Network listed 4000 career hit leaders counting minor league action. I think there were a grand total of 5. Would you contend that our minor league pitchers are better than Japanese League pitchers?

Without looking at the equivalencies, I'd guess that Japan falls closer to AAA and AA in terms of overall talent level, than MLB.

I think big compilations of numbers by career minor leaguers doesn't happen for two reasons:

- Most guys that are good enough to compile 4000 hits in the minor leagues, don't stay in the minor leagues, they get promoted.
- Guys not good enough for MLB but good enough to compile a ton of hits, probably quit long before they get to 4000.

Don't disagree with any of that. Just pointing out that the dude has 4000 hits at a professional level. Not many have done it. It's not like he hasn't hit MLB pitching because he has. Nor did he get 3300 in Japan and 700 here.

If the general consensus is that 500 home runs is no longer an "automatic" lock for the HOF, should we also acknowledge that 3000 hits (primarily singles) should not be an automatic lock for the HOF either.

Posted by tecwrg on 8/22/2013 1:00:00 PM (view original):If the general consensus is that 500 home runs is no longer an "automatic" lock for the HOF, should we also acknowledge that 3000 hits (primarily singles) should not be an automatic lock for the HOF either.

Ichiro = not a HOFer.

I agree. The raw hits and high average are cool and all, but there really isn't much else there, and I'm a big hall guy.

Posted by MikeT23 on 8/22/2013 12:53:00 PM (view original):Don't disagree with any of that. Just pointing out that the dude has 4000 hits at a professional level. Not many have done it. It's not like he hasn't hit MLB pitching because he has. Nor did he get 3300 in Japan and 700 here.

Not bashing Ichiro. The 2700 hits here in 13 years is amazing. Imagine if he had had a decent walk rate to go along with all the hits.

Posted by MikeT23 on 8/22/2013 12:53:00 PM (view original):Don't disagree with any of that. Just pointing out that the dude has 4000 hits at a professional level. Not many have done it. It's not like he hasn't hit MLB pitching because he has. Nor did he get 3300 in Japan and 700 here.

Not bashing Ichiro. The 2700 hits here in 13 years is amazing. Imagine if he had had a decent walk rate to go along with all the hits.

Posted by MikeT23 on 8/22/2013 12:53:00 PM (view original):Don't disagree with any of that. Just pointing out that the dude has 4000 hits at a professional level. Not many have done it. It's not like he hasn't hit MLB pitching because he has. Nor did he get 3300 in Japan and 700 here.

Not bashing Ichiro. The 2700 hits here in 13 years is amazing. Imagine if he had had a decent walk rate to go along with all the hits.

Walks increase, hits decrease.

Not necessarily.

EDIT: The raw hits would go down, obviously, I'm thinking of his batting average. His BABIP was already really high because he used to beat out a lot of infield hits. Increasing his walk rate shouldn't change that.